Now offering COVID-19 Testing and Vaccinations at Colton location.
What Is Emotion-Focused Coping?
Blog Outline

What Is Emotion-Focused Coping?

As we know, stress is a natural part of life. We can use different techniques to deal with it. You can use emotion-focused coping as one of them. You can use it as a stress management technique to reduce stress. It is considered the best strategy when dealing with your emotional response, instead of trying to change the situation. For instance, if someone lost their loved ones. They can’t change the fact of death, but they can work on their emotions to let this grief pass by. It is an effective strategy for your emotional health. Therefore, we will further guide in this blog on emotion-focused copy and how it works.

When To Use Emotion-Focused Copying 

What is emotion-focused coping? It is an emotional response to a stressful situation. A person uses this strategy when they can’t control the situation. So, when you cannot change the problem, you will try to manage your emotions to cope with stress. Furthermore, it is helpful to deal with depression and anxiety. By using this tool, we can keep our minds at peace.

Read More: What is Depression ?

Types Of Emotion-Focused Coping Strategies 

Everyone is unique in their own way. The strategies that might work for you may not work for another person. This defines that everyone is built differently. Therefore, you can explore the multiple strategies that will work brilliantly.

Crying: 

It is a natural process or way to release your stress.

Talking To Someone: 

You can talk to any trusted friend or family member.

Writing In A Journal: 

You can write down your emotions. This will help you out in reducing stress.

Mediation & Mindfulness: 

You can do meditation anytime during the day. This will keep your body and mind at peace.

Spiritual Practices: 

You can do prayers and read spiritual books to cope with stress.

Engaging In Creative Activities: 

This tool is included in one of the emotion focused strategies. You can dance and paint. This will help you manage your stress.

Read More: Defining Emotional Intelligence

How Emotional-Focused Coping Differs From Problem-Solving Coping 

We will dissect the two different approaches. This way, you will find out the best approach to navigate your life challenges.

Emotion Focused Copying 

This emotion-focused coping technique is beneficial for your mental health when you try to focus on your emotions when you are unable to control the situation. The example of emotion-focused coping can be taken as if you are stressed about your exams, you will probably start taking deep breaths to keep your mind cool and at peace.

Problem-Focused Copying

This technique will directly focus on solving the concern and issue. For instance, if you are worried about the exams, you will make a study plan to deal with the situation or to resolve the current problem.

Read More: How to Deal With Crippling Anxiety?

Benefits Of Emotion-Focused Coping 

Emotion-focused copying can offer various benefits when it comes to life challenges. Also, you can discover the benefits of reducing negativity.

  • Strengthen your mind
  • Allow a person to think in a positive manner
  • Helps to deal with real-life difficulties
  • Improves your mental well-being.

Risks Of Misusing Emotion-Focused Copying 

The misuse of emotion-focused copying can get you in trouble. It can lead you to unhealthy behaviors. It can make a person addicted to alcohol and drugs addictive to numb their emotions. Also, it can lead you towards isolation and a denial of accepting reality. Moreover, it can lead you towards various mental health issues, such as PTSD and eating disorders. However, you should adopt the healthy patterns of emotion-focused coping to process your emotions, not to escape from them.

Read More: Everything to Know About PTSD Criteria

Therapies That Support Emotion-Focused Copying 

If emotion-focused copying is not working for you for a long period, you may need professional help. Besides this, we will further guide you to the answers to what emotion-focused coping strategies involve. And learn how one can use it most effectively with therapy.

Emotion-Focused Therapy:

This therapy helps you understand and manage your emotions to cope with stress.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy:

This will help in changing your negative thoughts and patterns. Besides this, psychotherapy helps in determining the person’s underlying issues and emotions.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy:

This therapy deals with a person’s intense emotions. Also, this therapy is highly recommended for various mental health issues like OCD and bipolar disorder. This therapy will help you get rid of intense negative emotions. So, you can learn healthy ways to deal with the problems.

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy: 

This therapy will help you understand your emotions. You can join this therapy via telehealth. This will allow you a safer place. You can express your emotions openly without any fear in your comfort zone.

Read More: What There’s To Know About Existential Psychotherapy?

Practical Tips For Practice: Emotion-Focused Copying

You can follow the mind-blowing emotion focused coping strategies that will help you to regulate your emotions. You can try these strategies in your daily life routine.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation: 

It is an effective tool to relax your muscles to avoid stress.

Emotional Journaling: 

You can write down your feelings. This will put your mind at ease.

Deep Breathing: 

You can take deep breaths 4 to 5 times a day.

Gratitude Lists:  

You can write down the things you are grateful for.

Affirmations: 

You can practice positive affirmations, such as I am strong enough. This will encourage you to do better things.

Read More: Discussing Bipolar Psychosis


How Culture Affects Emotion-focused Coping 

Cultural backgrounds play a significant role. In some cultures, people are allowed to fully express their emotions. While in other cultures, it might not seem as valuable a thing. This defines how culture affects your emotional expression. This way, you need to respect people coming from diverse backgrounds.

Building A Balanced Coping Style 

Emotion-focused copying can work wonders when it is combined with other strategies. It is helpful for people who are diagnosed with psychosis. You can use the emotion focused coping skills to manage the stress from psychosis. Also, you can use problem-focused copying to resolve the issue. The social support can be used to seek support and feel connected. Besides this, you can use psychiatric medication management for underlying psychiatric issues. They will suggest medication based on your condition.

Read More: Telehealth Addiction Treatment: A Path To Recovery From Anywhere

Finding Strength Through Emotion-Focused Coping

The emotion-focused coping psychology definition is where a person learn to process their emotions when the situation goes beyond their limit. It is a powerful tool for your emotional well-being. It gives you strength when dealing with stress and anxiety. It is not against pain. This mechanism will help you to face challenges and deal with the pain. Besides this, you can join us for your mental well-being at Inland Empire Behavioral Group. Our experts are there to protect you from unwanted stress with effective approaches.

Was this article helpful?
YesNo
Frequently Asked Questions

You can use it when you are feeling anxious and stressed.

This technique is also known as the stress management technique. It will reduce the intense negative emotions.

This will help you to accept the problems. Also, this will help you to process your emotions when the situation gets out of control.

This approach will help you become aware of your emotions. This will develop a better understanding to deal with it.

  1. Paul, J. (2024, June 11). Emotion Focused Coping vs. Problem Focused Coping. Dr. Magie Cook | Motivational Latina Speaker | LGBTQ. https://magiecook.com/blog/emotion-focused-coping-vs-problem-focused-coping/
  2. What is Emotion-Focused Coping? Techniques and Examples | SonderMind. (n.d.). https://www.sondermind.com/resources/articles-and-content/emotion-focused-coping/
  3. Raypole, C. (2025, March 3). 7 Emotion-Focused coping techniques for uncertain times. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/emotion-focused-coping#takeaway
Learn more about our blog and editorial process.
Share this article
Facebook
Email
Twitter
Print
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Reddit

Copy link

Latest Post

Scroll to Top

Dr. Reri Uku

PMHNP-BC

Dr. Reri Uku is a board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC). Her expertise lies in her ability to provide quality, compassionate, and comprehensive mental health
services including medication management to adolescents and adults. Her practice is guided by evidence-based treatment approaches that are tailored to meet individual needs and preferences. Her role is multidimensional, including educator, mental health advocate, and therapist.

As a PMHNP, she has a passion for bringing healing to patients who have traumatic and stressful life experiences.

As an adjunct faculty at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), she values interdisciplinary education and inter-professional collaboration for a student-centered learning approach to provide safe and effective patient care.

She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Azusa Pacific University in 2018 and her Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner from National University in 2019. She graduated from California State University, San Bernardino master’s program with majors in Nurse Education and Advanced Community/Public Health in 2014. She became a registered nurse in 2010 and her background includes experiences in Medical Surgical Nursing, Neurology, Oncology and Psychiatry.

Her interests includes trauma focused care and integration of behavioral health medicine, with a goal to facilitate better outcomes for patients’ with mental health disabilities

Adaobi M Adimorah

PMHNP-BC

Adaobi Adimorah is a highly skilled and professional psychiatrist. Adaobi is significantly contributing to commendable health care services at the  Inland Empire Behavioral Group in Riverside, California. Furthermore, her services at the Brainiac Medical Corporation in Colton, California are also breathtaking. She started her academic career with her Associate degree in Nursing at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in Newi. Then Adaobi grabbed more excellence with her graduation in Nursing at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ. Later on, Adaobi pursued his academic career and got a Doctorate in Nursing from the Psychiatric Mental Health Specialization Center.

Adaobi has retained expertise in diagnosing and treating anxiety, depression, AHD, and numerous other mental disorders. She has a strong belief that the effective implementation of cognitive behavior and enormous mindfulness techniques can foster mental well-being.

Mohammad I Hussain

PMHNP-BC

Mohammad I Hussain is an experienced mental health expert. He has set the records by offering commendable mental health services. Mohammad I Hussain is renowned for his effective strategies against several mental health disorders. Mohammad I Hussain perfectly entered into the medical era by completing the graduation from Walden University. He also obtained an Associate Degree in Nursing from Pasadena City College. His diverse work experience at different medical institutes is the actual representation of his incredible psychiatric skills. Mohammad I Hussain is perfectly familiar with all the effective strategies against varied mental illnesses including ADHD, anxiety, depression, OCD bipolar disorder, etc.

Dr. Carla. MD

Psychiatrist

Dr. Carla Chambers Hammond, M.D. is a competent psychiatrist.

Dr. Carla is presently serving at the Inland Empire Behavioural Group. She retains the specialization in child and adolescent psychiatry.

Dr.Carla has been extremely proficient from a young age. She completed her schooling at the UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas. She acquired excellence in the mental health field by getting a medical degree from New York Medical College. Her psychiatric internship in New York was the main turning point in her medical career. Dr. Carla also obtained various diplomas in the medical profession. As ABAM Diplomat in Addiction Medicine, she turned heads with her exceptional performance. Her therapeutic approach is phenomenal.

Wesley Wong

LMFT

Welsey Wong is a renowned marriage and family therapist. Wesley is currently providing his exceptional services at the Inland Empire Behavioral Group in Riverside, California. Wesley acquired excellence in both academic and professional fields. After completing his graduation in psychology, he was enrolled for a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy at the California School of Professional Psychology in California. Wesley gained immense fame in employing his strategies of Adlerian theory and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Welsey is also serving as the top-notch therapist at the Brainiac Medical Corporation in Colton, California.

Welsey offers incredible services to treat varied mental health disorders. Among them, Bipolar disorder and Schizophrenia are his promising domains. If you are striving for the finest solutions regarding your personal life, you can consult him. What you need to do is simply schedule a call and book your appointment. Wesley’s health care services are significant to direct you towards reliable and permanent mental health resilience. With just a few sessions, you will cherish sound health.

Khadija Hamisi

DNP, PMHNP

Dr. Khadija Hamisi is an extremely passionate and experienced mental health expert.

Dr. Hamisi provides astonishing psychiatric services at Inland Empire Behavioral Group in Riverside, California.
She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from California State University San Bernardino. Then to pursue her career, Dr. Khadija obtained a Master’s in nursing and adult psychiatric Mental Health. Brandman University transformed Khadija into an inspiring psychiatrist.

She not only got a doctorate there but also acquired numerous mesmerizing healthcare expertise. Dr Khadija has the finest skills in employing the therapy and medication therapies for patients.

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.